On the Annunciation (Homily I) · §17 · Gregory Thaumaturgus

The Creator wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger

She swathed in swaddling bands Him who clothes Himself with light as with a garment (Psalm 104:2). She wrapped in cloths Him who formed all creation. She laid in a manger Him who sits above the cherubim (Psalm 80:1) and is praised by countless angels (Daniel 7:10). In the manger of beasts without reason the divine Word rested, to give a sense of reason to men who were truly without reason by their own free will. On the table of beasts of burden the heavenly bread was set out, to make men, who were without reason like cattle, sharers in the mystical food.

Latin

Fasciis eum involuit, qui amictus est lumine sicut vestimento. Involuit pannis eum, qui omnem formavit creaturam. Reclinavit in praesepio eum, qui super cherubim sedet, et ab infinitis Angelis collaudatur. In irrationalium animalium praesepio divinum requievit Verbum, ut hominibus vere irrationalibus secundum liberam voluntatem, rationalem sensum tribueret. In mensa iumentorum, caelestis panis propositus est: ut homines instar pecorum irrationales, mystici cibi participes redderet.

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About this text

Gregory Thaumaturgus, On the Annunciation: the first sermon, in a fresh English translation. Three sermons survive; this volume covers the first only.

Gregory Thaumaturgus (c. 213–c. 270) was Origen's most famous pupil and the apostle of Pontus. Much else was later published under his name.

The Homilies on the Annunciation celebrate Gabriel's visit to Mary — David's oracle, the angel's greeting, and Mary's reply. They are transmitted under Gregory's name, though scholars generally count them the work of a later hand.

This volume holds the whole First Discourse, from the joy of the day through Gabriel's message and Mary's reply. The second and third discourses are not translated here.

Part only: Homily I

Fresh English translation of the whole first sermon from the Latin column of the Opera omnia print (Paris, 1622) (printed pp.

Printed text used

Translated from Opera omnia, Greek and Latin (Paris: Sonnius, Morel and Cramoisy, 1622), page images (Latin column (Greek damaged))
Also checked Archive DjVu machine-read text (Latin/Greek mixed machine-read text)
Translated from Latin opening (Latin)

Where the prints differ

Sermo I — Long-s and column joins expanded from the Latin face; Greek face left aside as damaged machine-read text.

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We made this study translation with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open Latin on any section, or the Latin source link, to see the source text. It is not a critical edition.

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